Infolding machine



Oct. 18 1932. w. DIXON 1,383,344

INFOLDING MACHINE Filed May 27. 1930 \JJ Q a 82 2 lnveriror: 5 5 Walrer Dixon b KM wwl,

ATTys.

Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STA ES PATENT OFFICET.

WALTER n; DIXQN; or nos'ro'N, nr ssAcnnsnrrs', 'AssIGNon 'ro YBEECE mm MACHINE COMPANY, or Bo's'roN, nrAssAcnusn'rrs, A coRronA'rIoN or MAINE I NF OLIDING MACHINE Application; filed May 27,1930] Serial No. 456,054.

is to afford a system ofinfolders and operating. mechanismadapted for the effective folding of each of the rounded ends of narrow blanks, such as the collar bands referred to, it having been a difficult undertaking to fold these. rounded ends in a manner to give a smooth outline in the product and to avoid the irregularity or bunching of the inturned fabric which is liable to occur, and which impairs the appearance and Value of product.

The present invention, for the attainment of the aforesaid objects and advantages, consists in the novel construction and operation of infolding machine, and the novel features of combination, arrangement and detail herein illustrated or described. 7 v

The present application is a companion to another application executed and filed the same date herewith Serial Number 456,053 and which shows the complete infolding machine, as to defining and pressing as well as infolding means. For this reason the drawing herein discloses only the infoldingmechanism of this invention, and thismay be considered as vsubstituted for the infolding mechanism shown in the companion application, as the two may be interchangeable in the same machine, and each having features of advantage according to the, particular product to be made. v

The companioncase contains figures showing general front and right side elevations of the complete machine,and a transverse the vertical sectional view, and, certain detail views which may referred to for the purposes of the present disclosure.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is afpartial top plan view of the machine, shown with a certain plate removed,and

showing the infolders in their outer or re-. tracted position ready to receive the unfolded blank.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section view taken on the line 2,,-2 of Fig.1, certain parts seen in front elevation.

Fig. 3.is a top plan view similar to Fig. 1,

butin a later stage, wherein the infolders have moved in over the templet to form the folds.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

I Fig. 5 is a face' view of the product or folded blank, with the original outline of unfolded blank indicatedin dotted lines.

These figures correspond substantially with Figs. 5, 7 6, 9 and 8 respectively of the comp anion case. I

The blank a is shown in dotted lines in its original size and shape and in full lines in its final folded condition wherein the side margins b at the front and rear have been turned in and the end margin 0 has been neatly turned in and pressed down on the principles of this invention.

The machine is preferably power ,fromja. cam shaft as in the companion case. The frame of the machine carries a fixed bed 21, the vcenter of which is slightly raised asa pedestal or so-called pad 22 onv which the blanks rest during infolding. The bed may have longitudinal slots 23 for the adjustment of the parts of the pad and for other purposes. The templet 27 is indicated in Fig. 3 as having a middle plate 35 and end plates 36.. The ,templet is fitted to descend upon the blanks on the pad while the infolders normally lie flush with the top of the pad. Thecomplet e con- 7 struction of the templet is. not herein shown,

but a carrier 37 is indicated forthe middle plate and acarrier 43 for the end plate, this arrangement permitting-the templet to be contracted or shortened when elevated, to permit the extractionof the folded blanks.

an outline carriage or frame, similar to that in the companioncase, comprising a front frame bar 63 and a rear frame bar 63*, the two nterdriven The system of infolders may be carried on connected at the ends to permit its relative approach and separatiomby a telescopingac tion. Each frame bar is formed with slots 68 for the adjustable attachment of infolders.

The infolders are shown as including a middle side infolder 7 2 at the front and a similar one 7 2 at the rear, these attached to the respective frame bars by bolts 73. Each infolder may comprise a thick or heavy body portion with a thin plate-like overhanging portion 7 4, these portions adapted ,to ride over the pad and templet while the thick portions move up to the sides of the pad during the infolding action as will be clear from Fig. 4;. 1

Next to the middle side infolders are what may be termed end side infolders 76 and 76 at the front and rear, so that each of the long sides of the blank is folded by means of the three side folders described. Figs. 1 and 2 show the cover plateremoved from the rear end si'de'folder 7 6 thus showing the construction. Each end side folder is shown as having an endwise extension 7 7 or 77 the top side of which is flush with the body of the infolder, but partially recessed at 7 8 or 78 to receive a thin infolder to be described. The top sides of the folders 7 6 and 76 also are formed with shallow recesses 80 for the reception of a yielding folder to be described. The respective end side folders are attached to the frame side bars by means of bolts 81 and 81 permitting lengthwise adjustment for changes of size.

On top of each end side folder is attached a cover plate 82 or 82 the latter being omitted except in Fig. 1. These cover plates are sub- 5 stantially a part of the infolder, being atapex of the blank, the present construction embodies a pair of end infolders 89 and 89 connected to each other by a pivot pin 90 so that they may move bodily lengthwise and also swing toward each other about the pivot pin with a scissor-like motion. These swinging end folder plates are thin plates moving in the recess 7 8 of the end side folder. Before describingthe means for giving the endwise movement to the end folders the connections for swinging will be described.

The end folders 89 and 89 are provided with upstanding pins 91 and 91 engaging in slots 92 and 92 formed in plates 93 and 935* attached to the end side infolder. These slots are longitudinal and are adapted, when the end side infolders move toward each other, to

swing inwardly the pins 91 and 91 and thus swing the end infolders toward each other.

The endwise movements of the end infolders may be eflected as follows. A slide 94 is shown movable longitudinally in a guiding groove 23 in the machine bed. The inner end of this slide carries the pivot pin 90 already referred to, so that the movements of the slide .causethe longitudinal movements of the end infolders. The outer end of the slide 9 L has an upstanding projection 95 to which is pivoted a push rod 103 having an adjusting slot 104, this rod and slot corresponding with the same 'partsin the companion case and being arranged for similar actuation, preferably the endwise inward movement of the end folders preceding their swinging movement produced by the mutual approach of the side infolders.

In order to maintain a continuous outline during the initial movements of the infolders it is preferred to employ a yielding folder 97 or 97 which is arranged to slide in the recess 80 or'80 of the end side folders and to bridge over the gaps between the end side folders and the end folders, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Each yielding folder may have an upstanding pin'98 or 98 extending through the slot 83'or 83 of the cover plate and pulled upon by a spring 99 or 99 to maintain the folder yieldingly in contact with the adjacent folders. I

The full complement of infolders surrounding the templet and blank have now been described, involving a total of fourteen infolders, in the full embodiment. They are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in their outward initial position and in Figs. 3 and 4: in their inward position after the folding and in readiness for the pressing operation. The blank 00 is omitted in Fig. 1, but its outline will correspond substantially with the dotted outline indicating the boundary of the thin infolder edge 74. Fig. 3 shows the folded blank a and two of its folds b. j The end infolders 89 and 89 must necessarily overlap at their pivot pin and in order to preserve a continuous outline each of them is indicated as recessed for a part of its depth to accommodate the other. For example each 'of them may be recessed for half of its depth over the area of a. concentric circle tangent to the outline to be infolded, as shown.

At the completion of the folding it is intended to effect a squeezing pressure between the infolders and underlying pad to crease thefolds, and the pad may beheated to improvethe action.

. The actuating means and the cams for effecting thevarious infolder movements may be as in the companion case, and thetiming may be substantially the same. Therefore the details .of the connections and cams are omitted herefrorh. It will be understood that 'the infolders before moving inwardly must he lifted from their initial position shown in Fig. 2, with their top sides flush with the pad, to an elevated position as shown in Fig. 4, permitting the folders to be moved in over the pad and templet. The means for effecting the lifting and lowering movements and the pressing movements of the infolders may be as in the companion o posite side edges and both rounded ends 0 collar band or similar blanks, in combination with a blank supporting bed and a defining templet, of infolders for the opposite side edges of the blank movable inwardly and outwardly, and at the end a complementary pair of infolders swingably connected together, means for moving the pair of end infolders inwardly endwise, means for mov- 1 ing the opposite side edge infolders inwardly sidewise, and means carried by the opposite side edge infolders respectively for swinging the adjacent end infolders toward each other. a '2. A machine as in claim 1 and infolders respectively, and the side edge infolders are recessed to accommodate the end infolders.

3. A machine as in claim 1 and wherein the means for swinging the end infolders comprises a constantly engaged slot and pin connection between the side edge and end infolders.

In testimony whereof this specification has been duly signed by:

WALTER L. DIXON.

wherein the end infolders overlie the adjacent side edge l 

